Intercepting Love (Second Chances #5)(9)
I had to give it to him … he was blunt and to the point.
Although it was true that I didn’t want to drive him home at first, it was actually kind of enjoyable on the way home.
“Look, Cooper, at first I didn’t want to drive you home, and I’m sorry if you thought I was being a bitch. It’s just I’ve had this notion that you were going to be an arrogant jackass, and I wasn’t too thrilled about having to be around you.”
“Have I come off like that at all?” he countered seriously.
“No, you haven’t, which really kind of shocked me,” I confessed. “Anyway, you’re part of the team now, and I know the guys are going to give you hell tomorrow, so the last thing you need is someone else igniting the flame.”
Surprising me, Cooper’s expression changed and he chuckled while hopping out of my car. “You’re concern is touching, Kate, but I’m going to have to pass on the ride tomorrow. I don’t want to get kicked off the team because I pissed off your husband. I know I definitely wouldn’t want you spending time with another man if you were mine.”
Instantly, my body tightened when he said the word mine. I hadn’t belonged to anyone in so long I forgot what it felt like to have someone hold me and touch me … to make love to me. Was it wrong of me to wonder? Yes, you idiot. You’ve already ruined one person’s life, the last thing you need to do is destroy someone else’s. It was too dangerous thinking of things like that. I destroyed a life long ago, and I refused to do it again, especially to Luke and Cooper. There was nothing wrong with being friends though.
“Wait,” I exclaimed before Cooper could shut the door. With a smile on my face, I laughed and said, “You’re not going to get kicked off the team by pissing off my husband. My brother, on the other hand, is a different story. So if you want a ride tomorrow it’s perfectly fine for you to come along with me.”
“Your brother?” he questioned with a slightly confused look on his face. “So you’re not married?”
“Hey, I can’t help it if you assumed my so called protector on the team was my husband. I’ll be here tomorrow morning at eight. If you’re not ready, I’m leaving without you.”
Tilting his lip up in a seductive smirk, he backed up toward his front door, keeping his ocean blue gaze on mine. “Goodnight, Kate. I’ll see you in the morning.”
With those final words, I pulled out of his driveway and drove the short distance to my house. I was actually curious to see how well he handled the other players. There was something different about him that I hadn’t seen in any of the guys on our team, except for maybe Evan. It wasn’t arrogance—because our players had their fair share—it was more like … confidence. Underneath Cooper’s mask of failure he still had that spark of confidence that made him a winner, a leader. Hopefully, he let those sides of him be seen.
After falling asleep to the sound of the television, I woke up at precisely six in the morning like I did every day. Everything in my life moved like clockwork. My body knew when it needed a fix, and as soon as my eyes opened every morning I was happy to oblige it. I had hundreds of those little white pills ready to take their place in my body. They could do wonders on the muscles and the soul.
By the time seven o’clock rolled around, I was geared up and ready to go. What Kate didn’t know was that I actually didn’t need a ride to the field. A few weeks ago, when I’d flown into North Carolina, I had bought a silver Mercedes G-Class and it was sitting in my garage, all shiny and brand new.
In my mind I kept telling myself to keep the ruse up and let Kate offer to drive me every day, but my conscience wouldn’t let me. As much as she intrigued me yesterday with her stubborn glares and sexy southern belle accent, I didn’t want to deceive her. She wasn’t the type of woman you could mess around with and escape unscathed. From what I could gather in the little time I’d spent with her, pissing her off would be a huge mistake. Which was why I was on her front porch, waiting on her to answer the door.
I hadn’t realized it was only a few minutes after seven until I looked down at my phone. To my surprise, she answered the door with a smile, fully clothed in a pair of black pants and a pink lacy top that hugged her breasts perfectly. Instead of in a ponytail, her blonde hair was left loose down her shoulders, falling in soft curls. My fingers ached to grab a handful of it and hold her to me as I claimed her lips with my own. She was so goddamned beautiful.
“Good morning,” I greeted her. “I’m on time even though I know you didn’t think I would be.”
Smiling, she opened her door further. “Yes, but now you’re too early. I’m almost ready, but you can come in if you want.”
As I walked past her into the house, I noticed it smelled exactly like her. Even though we were in her Jeep riding home with the top down yesterday, I could still smell her skin as the breeze blew her scent my way; it was almost like apples, and her house was enveloped in it.
I followed her into her kitchen, where she hastily finished her cereal and placed her bowl in the sink. “Did you want anything to eat?” she asked politely, rinsing out her bowl. “I’m sure I can find something around here that you’ll like.”
When she looked back at me, I shook my head. “No, that’s okay. I already ate this morning.” It happened to be in the form of a couple of white pills.